Former Oklahoma Police Officer Convicted of Raping Black Women Sentenced to 263 Years in Prison

An Oklahoma judge has sentenced Daniel Holtzclaw, the former Oklahoma police officer who was convicted of raping multiple Black women, to 263 consecutive years in prison.

Last month, a jury found Holtzclaw, 29, guilty on 18 of the 36 rape and sexual assault charges against him and recommended a total of 263 years in prison. The sentencing was scheduled to take place earlier this morning; however, it was delayed for an unknown reason. The proceedings resumed this afternoon, and a judge gave him the full recommended sentence.

Yesterday afternoon, attorneys for Holtzclaw filed a motion requesting a new trial, citing that the DNA evidence against him could have been transferred in a nonsexual way and “several [women] who came forward were found to be liars who were looking for their piece of the pie.” Their request was denied earlier today.

Holtzclaw was accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen Black women between December 2013 and June 2014. He was fired from the force in January 2015 after 13 victims filed charges against him. His sentence begins immediately.